Post-9/11, the most annoying words that have appeared to me are "fundamentalist", "terrorist", "extremist" and all that are associated to it. It all points out to the man and woman, who is thought to be a conservative, religiously inclined, wears a religious headgear (man) or scarf (woman), who reads a religious book and the worst of all prejudices, to be a Muslim.The word "fundamentalism" is used ever more pervasively where religiously-inclined Muslims become politically active and seek to influence public opinion. The use of the word becomes an attempt to negatively brand someone as such.
Under Ben Ali's regime, Tunisia is thought to be the most "liberal" Arab country, at least in terms of women's rights. Polygamy is banned, women are free to work and have access to education and there is "gender equality". Sounds very "liberal"!
In Tunisia, the moderate Islamist party, En Nahda is set to become the biggest party in the next Tunisian parliament. The concerns about it turning the Tunisia government into an Iranian-style government comes from those who proclaim themselves to be "liberals". These are people who are fascinated with freedoms; that is freedom to do anything in the world with no limitations.
Perhaps there should be a reminder, that it was Ben Ali's government who "freed" women from the veil and "freed" man from praying by punishing. There is a very thin-line that differentiates the one who proclaim oneself as a "liberal" and a "secularist". The hard-line secularist Ben Ali was a "fundamentalist liberal" who punished people for display of religiosity.
Further reading:
"Tunisia poll results show al-Nahda lead"
"Tunisia: Women's rights hang in the balance"
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